Explosive-engine.



No. 790,374. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. J. 1). MAXWELL.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 13, 1903- 2 'snsnrssnnnr 1.

WITNESSES.

N0.790,3v4." v

- J. D.-MAXWELL,

BXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1903.

' 2 SHEETS-BHEET 2,

f INVENTOR.

Sm di an) mwglwel\ PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

Patented May 23, 1905.

JONATHAN D. MAXWELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

SJEE(JIJSLIICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent N0.790,374, dated May23, 1905.

Application filed July 13, 1903.

State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExplosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in explosive-engines; and-itsobject is to provide a multiple-cylinder engine which is particularlyadapted for automobile propulsion, the

cylinders being so arranged that they may be all inclosed within asingle casing, through which a current of air to cool the cylinders isforced by fans on the engine-shaft and'also so arranged as to take upthe least possible room.

It is also an object of the invention toreduce the vibration to theminimum and-to provide a cheap, effioient, and convenient constructionfor automobile use.

To this end theinvention consistsin arranging the cylinders around theengine-shaft with .their longitudinal axes extending parallel with thelongitudinal axis of said shaft and in so constructing the shaft andconnecting the pistons therewith that a rotary motion is imparted to theshaft by the pistons acting consecutively thereon, such arrangementbringpistons longitudinally of the shaft, thereby reducing vibration andalso bringing the cylinders close to the shaft, so that they may beinclosed in a casing, and

a fan secured to the engine-shaft at the end of the casing to causeacooling current of air to pass therethrough. Y

The invention also consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts and in certain other new and useful features, all as hereinaftermore fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of adevice embodyingthe invention; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, asecgear.

Serial No. 165,256.

tion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a detail showing a modifiedconstruction.

As shown in the drawings, Arepresents the four cylinders arranged atequal distances apart around the engine-shaft B, each cylinder extendinglongitudinally of the shaft with its axis parallel with the axis of theshaft, and a bearing O, within which said shaft turns, is provided withears to which the cylinders are bolted. The shaft B is formed with twostraight portions B B with a'crank D forming the connection between thetwo parts, said crank being formed by bending the end B of the part Blaterally at an angle of less than forty-five degrees to the shaft andforming a crank member B integral with the end of the part B and withthe end of the bent portion B On the laterally-bent end B of the shaftis a sleeve E, provided With four laterallyprojecting arms E, one foreach cylinder,

each arm provided at its outer end with a ball E to engage a socket F onthe end of each of the connecting-rods F, said bolts and sockets forminguniversal connections between the ends of the arms and the outer ends ofthe connecting-rods. 'The'upper ends of said rods are also secured tothe pistons G by universal connections formed by providing each of saidpistons with downwardly-extending lugs G, between which is pivotallysecured a block G and to these blocks the forked ends F of the rods arepivotally secured. The

part B of the shaft is mounted in a bearing H, which is provided withlaterally-extending arms H, provided with openings at their ends toreceive tie-bolts H Which also engage openings in cars on the cylinders,said tie bolts, cylinders, and bearing together forming a frame, whichis secured in any suitable manner to a base or frame (not shown) toprevent the same from turning. To prevent the sleeve E from turningaround the shaft, a miter-gear I is securely bolted to the bearing H,and the sleeve is formed with an integral miter-gear I to engage thestationary The gears are mitered relative to the bend in the shaft, sothat as the shaft is turned, changing the direction of the bent end, andconsequently that of the sleeve, the teeth of the gear I will be broughtsuccessively into mesh with those of the gear I, and as said gear I isstationary the sleeve is prevented from turning by the intermeshing ofthe gear-teeth, but at the same time is free to move as the bent endturns and, as it were, to rock on the stationary gear. WVithin a recessin the face of each gear is a hardened ring J to take the thrust of thepistons and prevent the gears from wearing, and when a piston receivesits impulse force is exerted, through its connecting-rod, upon the endof the arm E, and as the sleeve carrying said arm is prevented fromrotating the tendency of such force is to turn the laterally-bentportion B of the crank within the sleeve, thus rocking the sleeve on thestationary gear and moving the end of said arm away from the cylinder,permitting the piston to move to the outer end of its stroke. On thepart B of the shaft adjacent to the bearing H is secured the fly-wheelK, which is provided with flat spokes K, set at an angle to formfanblades, the opposite end of the shaft adjacent to the cylinder-headsbeing provided with a fan-wheel L, and inclosing the whole structure isa cylindrical casing M, the fan being located at one end of this casingto force air into the same, and at the opposite end of the casing is thefly-wheel, operating to draw the air from the casing. The cylinders areprovided with longitudinal radiating ribs, and as the air is forcedthrough the casing longitudinally of the cylinders they will beeffectually cooled, as will also the crank and other parts. Thecylinders are provided with suitable intake and exhaust valves, (notshown,) preferably arranged to operate the engine upon the four-cycleplan, and in the drawings four cylinders are shown; but two or more maybe used, and, if desired, two opposing sets, one at each side of thecrank, may be provided, operating in opposite directions thereon and setto receive their impulses in rapid succession. Where but one set offourcycle cylinders is used, operating in but one direction upon thecrank, it is preferable to use an odd number of cylinders and to explodea charge in every other cylinder in succession, so as to synchronize theimpulses; but if opposing sets are used they may be so arranged as tosynchronize the explosions when an even number of cylinders are used.

As shown in Fig. 4, instead of employing the miter-gears to hold thesleeveEfromturning said sleeve may be provided with the ears N and aring N, surrounding the shaft and pivotally secured between said ears bypivotpins N which ring is in turn pivotally secured by the pins N to theears N 4 on the stationary bearing H. The sleeve is thus held fromturning with the shaft by the ears N and allowed to rock on thepivot-pins N in one direction and on the pins N in the other direction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In anexplosive-engine, the combination of a crank-shaft and a plurality ofcylinders arranged around said shaft, connecting means for rotating saidshaft, an open-ended cylindrical casing surrounding the cylinders andcrank and a fan-wheel on the crank-shaft at each end of the casing.

2. In an explosive-engine, the combination of a crank-shaft having alaterally-bent portion extending at an angle of less than fortyiivedegrees to the axis of the shaft and forming a crank, a plurality ofcylinders extending longitudinally of the shaft, pistons in saidcylinders, a sleeve on the laterally-extending portion, arms on saidsleeve, connecting-rods connected at their ends by universal connectionsto thepistons and the ends of said arms, a miter-gear on said sleeve, astationary bearing and a miter-gear secured to said bearing and meshingwith the gear on the sleeves.

3. In an explosive-engine, the combination of a crank-shaft providedwith a lateral bend intermediate its ends forming a crank portionextending at an angle to the axis of the shaft less than forty-fivedegrees, a 'iluralityof cylinders arranged around said shaft with theiraxes extending parallel with the axis of the shaft, pistons in saidcylinders, asleeve on the laterally-extending portion of the cran k-shaft, arms on said sleeve, connecting-rods connecting the ends of saidarms with the pistons, a stationary bearing for the shaft, a miter-gearsecured to said bearing, a miter-gear on the sleeve, and wear-platesinterposed between said gears.

4:. In an ex 'Jlosive-engine, the combination of a crank-shaft having alaterally-bent portion extending at an angle to the axis of the shaft ofless than forty-live degrees and forming a crank, bearings for the shaftadjacent to said crank, a plurality of cylinders secured to the bearingat one side of the crank and spaced apart around the shaft with theiraxes extending parallel with the axis of the shaft, arms on the bearingat the opposite side of the crank, ears on the cylinders, tie-boltsconnecting said arms and the ears on the cylinders, pistons in saidcylinders, a sleeve on the laterally-bent portion of the shaft, arms onsaid sleeve, connecting-rods attached at their ends to the pistons andthe ends of said arms by universal connections, a miter-gear on thesleeve, and a miter-gear secured to the adjacent bearing, meshing withsaid gear on the sleeve.

5. In an explosive-engine, the combination of a crank-shaft and aplurality of cylinders around said shaft, pistons in the cylindersconnecting with said crank-shaft for transmitting motion thereto, anopen-ended cylindrical casin; surrounding the cylinders and shaft, a

fan-Wheel on the shaft Within the casing at one end thereof, and afly-Wheel at the opposite end thereof having spokes forming fan blades.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JONATHAN D. MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, LEWIS E. FLANDERS.

